PTGS2 and gastric cancer: Notably, high-salt treatment could amplify the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-PGE2 pathway in mice with carcinogen (N-nitroso-N-methylurea [MNU])-induced GC, while COX-2 up-regulation then disrupts gastric epithelial homeostasis by increasing cellular proliferation and causing DNA damage and clonal expansion of mutated cells [20].